Comox Valley school entering final days of voting for outdoor classroom contest

The Comox Valley has until Sunday evening to help École Robb Road Elementary School win a $20,000 outdoor classroom.

Voting in the MAJESTA Trees of Knowledge contest closes Sunday at 9 p.m. Until then, voters can cast their ballot daily to help Robb Road — which has been holding steady in fifth place — win.

The 10 finalist schools “who made it to this stage of the competition win $1,000, but as soon as you get in fourth place of higher you win more,” says parent Natasha Taylor, who entered the school in the contest. “We’ve put so much energy into this, and time; I really want us to get to fourth, or higher.”

The fourth place school receives $2,000, the third place receives $3,000 and second receives $5,000. To vote, visit www.majestatreesofknowledge.ca. Adult voters have a chance to win a $10,000 cash draw.

Robb Road’s outdoor classroom design includes a food garden, a seating area made out of stumps complete with a chalkboard and a native plant garden, among other things.

Regardless of the contest outcome, Taylor says the school will continue to work towards making its outdoor classroom dream a reality. She’s submitted grant applications to Evergreen and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, in the hopes of receiving up to $8,000. Plus, including the $1,000 the school will receive for being a contest finalist, Taylor estimates about $2,500 has already been raised for the project.

“We’re going to keep pushing away at it,” says Taylor. “It will obviously not happen all at once, but slowly we’re going to make it happen no matter what.”

There will be a fundraiser garden party and bake sale Thursday (today) between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the site of the future outdoor classroom at Robb Road. All proceeds will go to the project.

The school will also participate in Croquet for YANA (You Are Not Alone), which happens at noon Sunday at Highland Secondary School, and raises funds for YANA. Robb Road will design one of the many mini croquet courses in the event. There will be a table set up with iPads so attendees can vote for Robb Road while at the event.

writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com

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